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mattwoolfrey
Reviews
The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
5, but wouldn't recommend
I heard the negative reviews so I wasn't anticipating much. The writing is the real problem, it's downright silly sometimes taking ideas that would need a season or two to sell and spitting them out quick. It's a shame. The first half wasn't awful, I was willing to go along with it, an atheist myself, I particularly enjoyed seeing Ann Down & Ellen Burstyn. But then Ellen's character meets the girls and something unnecessary and dramatic happens that sets the movie on a downward spiral. Ideas get more far fetched, people randomly unionize without motive, the pastor's helping a voodoo priestess prep a room for a nurse who had an abortion before taking her vows runs the whole show around 2 chairs chained down in a chalk circle. By the time the ending comes around, you're so fed up with the ridiculousness that you lose any care that you had for the main characters.
A miss for me, but well enough made to garner a 5; just don't give any points to the producers writer & Director. Also, although I like Leslie, he couldn't quite carry the film, but that could be writing issues.
Beaten to Death (2022)
Too much hype
Disturbing? Probably for some. I found the situations and dialogue a bit silly. Acting is a bit hammy as well. I kept thinking if this had the guts and grit of the Snowtown Murders, it would have succeeded. There are too many rookie moments, the makeup is a bit unrealistic, the eye gouging in particular was overhyped. I'd heard there were wince enduring moments. Maybe one, but they skip the moment off screen so it doesn't really serve as a scare or gross out moment. If you got through Hostel, this will be a cinch. I liked it but wouldn't recommend it to my extreme horror fans, so to me it missed its audience.
Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Did they know there's a book?
It felt like a really dumbed down version of the first movie plus dinosaurs and a kraken for absolutely no reason. I love a good shark movie, which this is not. It's so ridiculous and over the top that there's no fear of the sharks, they're just nonsensical as far as a plot goes. End credits feature a song exclaiming, " chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp chomp on this I'm an Apex predator" - that tells you all you need to know.
There are a few really good scenes in the book that scared me reading them, but this movie felt like an entirely different story. I didn't see any of the inspiration from the book in there. There's no scene at the underwater viewing station, where the two kids sneak in and tap on the glass to attract Angel, the albino Meg (such a missed opportunity). And gone also is the exciting scene with Jonah defending himself against the great white sharks while checking the gate.
I'd understand going to completely different direction in the book if it was a good story but the story here sucked I don't even think I could try to tell people what the story was. Complete rubbish! That's what the story was.
And as a Ben Wheatley fan, this is so disappointing. It's like he sold his awesome indie soul to become a Michael Bay wannabe. The whole movie was too over the top. Yet with incredibly under developed characters that you never really end up caring about.
I'd skip this one unless you LOVE Sharknado.
The Idol (2023)
A cringey mess with a deflated ending
The first few episodes are a painful watch, but some of the actors draw you in. Not Tesfaye. He's hard to watch and difficult to believe, something that only gets worse throughout. I kept waiting for a climax but it never came, and the last 20 minutes are a huge and infuriating disappointment that seemed to completely contradict the rest of the show. Then we get a lame video music montage.
Hbo usually nails it but this was a stain on their reputation. I didn't find anything offensive but I did think most of the show was tasteless. There's a potential that you just keep hoping will amount to something exciting, but it feels like a longgggg Weeknd video. If you're not into his music, it gets tedious. Although I have to admit, I really liked his John Lennon cover.
But all of this aside, Lily Rose Depp killed it. She was amazing, sexy, showed such an incredible range of emotions and depth, a triumph for her career.
Vengeance (2022)
Writer writing about writer writing
Far too much existential dribble, the story stays pretty flat though Ashton pulls a pretty good performance. The genre meanders with enough anticipation but then you never really get that payoff, everything is stretched to fit this podcast concept which feels cliche and overplayed to a fault. I liked Boyd, but even his character had more potential than was harnessed, contributing to a weak sense of obligation. The whole story stands on peg legs, it's a little far fetched (the beginning) and that ridiculousness tries to u-turn into drama, the comedic tone is still there, but the connections are weak because of it. All in all, would not recommend, there are far better films representing each scenario of this film. Maybe it's just me, but I hate it when writers write about writers writing. Narcissistic to me.
The Anarchists (2022)
Woulda been a good 60 min doc
Imo the first two episodes were interesting, then it's too long to sit with the characters, who pretty much repulse on all notes. Glad it's over, but I'd like 4 hours back please and thank u.
Bienvenidos al infierno (2021)
Just watch Lords of Chaos
This falls short on every level, it's decently made but the locations ruin any aesthetic sense they were going for. The metal band members lean toward dopey and everything is overdone to the point that you catch yourself giggling in the most serious moments. If you make it to the ending, it jumps to "TrueBlood" and "Buffy..." camp pretty fast. The only thing I enjoyed was the grandmother they stole from Hunger games.
Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Insulting to audience
This was such a disappointment. The nostalgic cast only counts for so much. The main problem? STORY. It's a horrible script, forgettable meaningless characters and every trope you'd expect, but done really poorly. Half the damn movie is about engineered locusts, fyi. I'd definitely wait for streaming, or miss this one altogether.
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
Too much doctrine, slow boring
Well made but way too much doctrine and mumbo jumbo. This could have been a movie, 2 episodes in Im not coming back for more. Slow, torture to sit through.
Câini (2016)
The dog dies
Sorry hard no
Slow as could be, moody but done well. But if ur gonna kill the main dog in a dog movie, you can F right off thanks.
Dog dies dog dies dog dies dog dies.
The Coven (2022)
Rosemarys Baby 2
It's made well, but it's nothing new. The cast is pretty good, but I didn't find anything scary. There's some folk horror but it's mostly a few decent costumes and a decent score. Still I e seen far worse, C for effort.
The Requin (2022)
So bad, what shark and oh boy Alicia
I LOVE Alicia, and enjoy her but she was a whiny mess in this. Imagine the end of titanic but worse and on the Lifetime channel. It's NOT a shark movie, fyi. There are some shots from shark week for about 4 mins total. I gave it two stars for Alicia which is about what she earned.
C'mon C'mon (2021)
Mediocre
I was bored to tears - not sure why the director went B/W, felt a little pretentious. Joaquin is terrific, but it's a slow not-much-happens character study, and I'm not a fan.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Misfired and unlovable
Everything is done well, but there's nothing to love in it. Slow and bad music for a Baz picture, imo. Maybe the book is just as lifeless, I haven't read it.
No Time to Die (2021)
Why.
This was more like a Pierce Brosnan or even Roger Moore script. The caliber is gone, there's not much to enjoy here and the villain was a bore. The only thing worth catching is the spy who assists him at a party... lets have a whole franchise of her character. Too many tropes, lazy writing and melodramatic acting, even Craig fell flat in this one. I think they should have left things alone after the previous film.
Midnight Mass (2021)
Oh come on
This is so badly cast, so poorly acted, the sound design score concept everything here is just garbage. Trope after trope. And the heavy handed Catholicism is ridiculous to the point of comical. But the writing and direction here belong on daytime TV.
Dune (2021)
Everything I wanted and more
It's so good that I think it will find appeal outside the SciFi genre. The acting is top notch, sound visuals storyline and style all surpass any Marvel or DC effort out there. Highly recommend seeing it on a large screen!
Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021)
If Tarantino inspired a Kung fu play
Cage is great, but this is no Mandy. Out there, a very weak story threads multiple scenes that resemble a day at Burning Man; there are interesting visuals worth checking out, but if you're not a Cage fan this won't do much for you. IMO, too many genre-jumps made it difficult to enjoy; but I praise the originality which harkens to Terry Gilliam's later work.
Chapelwaite (2021)
2 episodes in, I'm bored
The hook (for free) is ep 1-2; and I'm good there. Adrien is good, it's shot well, everything just feels regurgitated, IMO.
The Djinn (2021)
Not sure why this is so low
I found it to be a clever little spin on Faust, and particularly liked the handling of the occult. The boy and father are perfectly cast! Give it a shot!
Scare Me (2020)
Slap everyone involved
This movie has over 5 stars and I don't get it. It's awful. The amateur writer who drops him off is easily the best part. Watch 5 mins, and you're good. Save yourself from the plagiarism that follows. Lame from A to Z. I mean, are audiences really this stupid??
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
So bad
The visuals are great but the story is droll and I lost interest pretty fast, no nostalgic ties and Don Cheadle who is a phenomenal actor is a terrible villain.
Pig (2021)
It has been haunting me ever since
Originally, I gave this film a 6. I was enthralled, the film is STUNNING and the best film I've seen since the Pandemic started. Nic Cage is at his Leaving-Las-Vegas best throughout, and the story is captivating. I was mad about a certain plot point, but after reading up about some intentional thorns, I see the film for its splendor now. I rarely rate films over a 7, but I'm pushing this straight to a 9; I'll be watching it again to make sure it hasn't earned my "10"
Nobody (2021)
Bob, Action and Soundtrack shine
Someone else mentioned John Wick meets Home Alone, and that's pretty accurate. Action is pretty lit from the beginning, and the story picks up it's pace quickly. Christopher Lloyds performance is a brandy-soaked cherry on top!
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
Chris Rock should stick to comedy
What was his big idea, just to be in it? He's easily the most obnoxious Saw character of all time. Traps sucked, b-movie gore was mediocre, for a thinking horror fan this feels feeble AF. If I were a producer, I'd be wishing I spent that budget on cocaine.